Police condemn vandal for putting train at risk of derailment in South Yorkshire

Police officers investigating vandalism on a South Yorkshire railway line have condemned the culprit - claiming a train could have been derailed.

By The Newsroom

Published 7th Apr 2016, 10:45 BST

Updated 7th Apr 2016, 10:46 BST

A police investigation has been launched after a 21-year-old man was allegedly sexually assaulted as he walked down a busy Sheffield road.

Industrial screws were found on the goods line at Shaw Lane, Monk Bretton, Barnsley, which officers believe were placed there deliberately.

It is believed the screws were placed there at around 4pm on Tuesday, March 29.

DC Bob Hunt said: “These items, which included large industrial screws, were clearly placed on the line maliciously.

“In doing so they prevented the train driver from manually moving the tracks to change the direction of the train. This could have had serious consequences, potentially causing the train to derail.”

Anyone with information should call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.